Sausage-linking machine



Dec. 7,1926. I 1,610,008

. C. L. HRSCH v sAUsAGE LINKlNG MACHINE Filed oct. a, 1925 4 sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 7 12926.

SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE il She@11s-Sheet 2 Filed oct. 8. 1923 Dn. 7 1020.V 1,610,008

o. c. L. HlRscH sAUsAGE"n1 mms MACHINE Filed oct. g, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

`UNITED STATES O'ITO C. L. HIRSCH, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

, SAUSAGE-LINKING MACHINE.

Application led October 8, 1923. YSerial No. 667,264.

My invention relates to sausage linking machines and more particularly toa linking device that is adapted to be used in combination with a stufl'er. Y

It is a puipose of my invention to provide a sausage linking device that is adapted to be attached to the outlet of a stuft'er, said linking device twisting each sausage after the same has been filled by the stuifer. That is, instead of stufling an entire casing and then linking the same, as has been cus tomary, the amount of meat necessary to form one Vlink of the casing is admitted to he casingand then the casing is twisted to form the link. After this link has been formed more meat is admitted of a quantity suiiicient to fill the next link after which this link is twisted and so on until the en tire casing has been stuffed and linked.'

It has been foundY that in devices of this character diiiiculty is experienced in getting character wherein the links will be made of a uniform length although the casings may be of different texture and quality and of different diameters.

In order to accomplish this purpose I have provided a passageway leading from the outlet of the stufler to the twisting mechanism which is provided with valve mechanism that is alternately opened and closed so as to admit the meat to the casing while the saine isv not being rotated and to shut o the supply of lmeat while the same is being rotated, and valve mechanism which is adjustable to vary the amount of meat passing through the tube in accordance with the quality, size and condition of the casing that is being stuffed.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide valve mechanism in the above mentioned passageway that is related to the starting mechanism of the machine in such a manner that the valve willbe closed when the machine is not running and will be opened as soon as the machine is started and vto provide means for controlling the valve mechanism that is alternately openedA and closed which ope-ratesr iii timed relationship to the `operation of the twisting mechanism whichalso is alternately twisting and inoperative. y Y It is still another purpose of the invention to `provide. means for twisting the links,

line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

comprising a rotatable member, upon which thennilled casing is mounted, and a stationary member for holding the adjoining portion of the casing that has'been lled s o that as the rotatable member rotates the casing will be twisted to form a link. In order to assure proper feeding of the casing so as to have suflicient casing available at the point where the same is iilled to properly form the links, it is necessary that the operator move the casing mounted on 'the rotatable member toward the end thereof at which the twisting takes place and in order to avoid any chance of injury to the operator a guard is provided which is so mounted that the same is moved mto position when the Lmachine is started and automatically movesout of position when the machine is stopped, thus being out of the Way for placing a new casing on the ltwisting member.

It is another object of the invention to provide means onsaid rotating member for holding the sausage casing in a slightly stretched condition crosswise thereof, thus aiding in feeding the same in such condition to the point where filling and twisting take place that therewill be no wrinkles in the casing.

' Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description of the accompanying drawings proceeds. However, I desire to have it distinctly understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the exact Vdetails shown or described but that I yintend to include as part of my in-' vention all such obvious changes and modi-y ications of parts as would occur to a person skilled in this art and as would fall within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is aview partly in side elevation and partly in vvertical section of my improved vlinking device attached to the outlet of a stutter; Y

Fig. Q'is atop plan view ofthe device shown in Fig. 1; l y

.Fig 3 is an enlarged sectional vview taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. l; Y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on the Figp, is a sectional device shown in F ig. 3 taken on the line 5 5 of F ig. 3; n

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation 'showing a slightly different embodiment of my invention from that shown in Fig. l5

view of theV clutch` Fig. 7 is a section taken on the lino 7 of Fig.' 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view ofthe controlling switch mechanism used in the device shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view showing a modied means for operating the valve thatVv is alternately opened and closed;

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation of the devices shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. ll isa fragmentary vertical sectional view showing alternative means for driving the twistingmechanism; n

Fig.V 12'V is aV detailwside elevational view Ofone form of casing holding twisting means that may b e 'used;.

Figa 13 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. llrv is a view similar to Fig. l2 of still Yanother formof casing supporting means;

`l.*`i g.V l is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 1G is a detail side eleva-tion of still another form of rotating casing supporting means;

SQFigJl is an Vend elevation thereof; lllig. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view 'thereof g Figl) VisaI transverse sectional view of a, form of valve mechanism which maybe ,used with my jdevice, the operating link being-i partly' ,broken away; and

'l`ig."20 is asection lof` the mechanism shown inligglt) taken atright angles thereto. Y i

Vlie/terrine* in detail .to the drawings, in Fig. l is shown a fragment-ary section of ae-stufter having, an. outlet tube 3l and provided with the. usual valveV `'mechanism 32. r"Connected with said outlet tube is Aa linking; mechanism which comprises a base member upon which the vertically eX tending members 531i of the. framework are mounted. Said members. 34 are= provided with hearings for themain drive sha-ft 36 which is'driven from a motorl 37 mounted on the base through the pinion and gear '39. A. tubular memberitt) is also nonrotatably mounted on 'the verticallyT cxtenfling' n'iemhers 34 and is provided with a flanged end portion 4l which Vis secured to the enflof the outlet tube 3l of the .stutter by nieans of ai flanged nut 4:2 screwthreaded-ly mounted on said member 31.

The shaft BGcarries' a beveled Y which meshes with a beveled gear la mounted on the 'shaftllf'which is journalcd in the bracket #i6 and Vin A'the top member 4T of the framework. The shaft i5 carries a cam i8 which is provided with a high portion and a low portion 5,0; `the high portion Lt9 being' substantially twice as loireI as the low portion .50, or Lin other words, the high .portion occupies substantially .two thirds of the .circumference ofthe cani and the low portion substantially one third thereof. Co-

rjear 'opor cordancewith'the position of'the handle litiV operating` with said cam isy a roller lv-.f'hich is mounted on the lever 52 pivoted at 523 ltothe top member 47 of the framework.

'lhelever .is provided at one end thereof with a curved rack member 54C which meshes with the gear provided on the shaft 56 of the valve member 57. The opposite end f the lever is provided with a tension spring 58 Awhich secured to` any suitablev part of the framework so asto holdL the roller against the cam.

'lt will be seen that as ,theV shaft 3G` is rotated inthe direction of the arrow in Fig. 8 thesha-ftel will beY rotated clockwise in Fig. 2 whichV willcause the llever 52 to be swungv back and forth andcause the rack to reciprocate, thus causing an oscillation Yof the gear 55vthe proportion of they parts being such that the range of movement of the rack 54 moves .the vO'ear` 55 through a sufficient arc that .the valve-mechanism carried bythe shaft 56 lmounted in the tube Ll() Yill be opened'duringthe time that the high portion ofthe cam 49 engages wit-hfthe rollerl and will be returned to jclosedlposition hy Vthe spring 58 during the time the roller lis in engagement with the low portion 50 of the cam. "Thus, the valve 57 will beopened two thirds ofthe time and closed onethird ofthe time 'the machine is running'.

The motor. is provided with leads59 Y which pass from a source of cari-ent through a startingswitch having' ahandle 60A carrying; a contact meml'ier Gl eng-aging with the. cmtactniembers 6l whenthe.current for the motor is on. 'The handle'GO alsoserves as a handleA for the valve member@ being so arranged that the valve' is in open position when the handle 60 is ,in Vengagenient with the contactl and in closedposition when the handle'GO is out of engagement with the contactvGl". rvl`lievalvemay be .of any desired tj-.f'pe av rotatable valve memher heine shown'in 'Finne which is provided Vwith :i transverse opening (3.4 therein whereby the passage in the tnhe l() is open when the valve in Ythe pori-'tion V.shown in Fig. and

:closed when lthefvalve is in a. rposition substantially at Wide-grecs to I'that shown in 'F 4. The valve 5T is made in a similar manner as is' also Ithe valve GG. said valve G6 being 'provided with a shaft portionl '67 extendingYV upwardlv therefronji Vand with a handle GS provided .witlra pointer ,'69 cooperating with.. al scale' 70 .provided on the.' top plate si'v of the machine and having a .spring pr:V s

A ci; pini-7l frictionally engaging withV said top platejto hold the valve in a set position.'y i

thus regulatire` thesizeof the oriiicethrough wl'iich the meatfrom the stufferpassestomechanism 66 being provided so as to regnlate the amount of meat passing to the twisting device in accordance with the conditions existing in the casing that is on the machine. rfhe scale 70 may be provided with any desired markings, such as lengths of links in inches or any arbitrary scale.

From the above it will be seen that the meat feeding mechanism comprises a me. chanically operated valve that is driven from the main drive shaft of the machine so as to be'alternately opened and closed, being open Y tivo thirds of the time and closed one third of the time,.a valve mechansm-that can be set to vary the size of the orifice through which the meat passes t0 the stuffer and avalve mechanism that is linked with the starting mechanism in such a manner that when the motor is operating and the machine is started said valve is opened and when thev motor is stopped the valve isclosed.

The twisting mechanism is mountedv on a yoke-like bracket member 72 extendingy endwise from one of the vertically extending frame members 34, said member 72 being provided with a bearing 73 for a rotatable member' 74 which also rotates in a bearing 7 in the end member of the frame 34. Mounted within said rotating member V74 is a stationary filling tube 76 which is provided with a reduced extension 77 that feeds the meat into the casing at the open end thereof. Y The stationarymember 76 is screwthreadedly connected with the tube 40 as'will be evident from Fig.v 4. The rotatable member 74 is provided with a flange 78 to which is secured the flange 79 of the tubular member 80 by means of bolts`8l. The tubular member 80 is provided for receivingl the sausage casing thereomsaid sausage casing being pulled over the tube 80 inthe manner shown in Fig. l, the casing being indicated by the numeral 82. Thus, it vwill be seen that while the member carrying the vcasing 82 ro*- tates, the filling tube leading froml the stufi ing mechanism is stationary to ythe very point where discharge of the meat into' the casing occurs, thus making the device more simple. the rotating parts much lighter and inaking it much easier to inthe filling tube.

ln the'form shown in the'Figs. l to`5 inclusive. the means for rotating the rotatable member 74 and consequently the casing receiving memberf comprises a clutch mem,- bel' 83 mounted on the shaft 36.7said clutch member S3 comprising a disk 84 keyed to the lshaft 3G upon which is pivotally mounted a finger 85. saidr finger 85 being pivot-ed at 8G on the lug 87 on said plate.` Extending throughA an opening in the finger 85 is a` bolt 88 mounted on said plate 84 having a head 89 and having a coil spring 90 mounted between said head and -theingerv85-k Thus, the finger 85 is pressed toward the platcg84 by provide tight joints the cam and the bracket 72. Consequently, Y

as the plate 84 rotates, the finger 85 will be thrown toward the left in Fig. 5 when the sameis in engagement with the cam 92 and will .be in the position shown in Fig. 5 when out of vengagement with said cam or just as it enga-ges with the inclined portions 9B at the ends of the cam. n f Loosely mounted on the shaft V3G is a gear 94 which is provided with a plurality of pins 95'projecting there'f'roimthee being preferably three in number as shown in Fig. 3. The length of the cam 92 and the arrangement of the pins 95 is such that the finger 85 will only be engaging with a pin 95- through substantially. one third of a revolution of the plate 84 or through only substantially one third of the time that ,theJ shaft 36 rotates. Consequently, the gear 94 will be rotated only one third of the timeA that the shaft 36 is rotating. Meshing with the gear 94 is a pinion 96 which is keyed on a shaft 97 thatcarries the gear 987 said gear `98 meshing with the gear teeth 99 provided on the rotatable member/74. It will thus be seen that as the gear 94'rotates, the rotatable Vmember 74 Vand the casing supporting member 80 are rotated. Accordinglyrthe members 74 and SOare rotated only during one third of the time that the shaft 36 rotates, thearrangement of the parts being such that this rotation takes place at the time when the roller 51 is in engagement with'the low portion 50 of the cam 48. Thus, twisting of the casingtakes place when the valve member 57 is closed and the casingfrotatingor twisting device will be stationary when the valve member 57 is open. i Y 1` Inthe form shown in Figs. l to v5 inelusive, the operator holds thelilled links 100 of the casing and as vthe member 8dr@- tates,r a twist'of the casingoccurs at .191 due to the fact that the portion 100 thereof is held stationary and the portion on the member 8O` is rotated: `rlhe ratio of' the gears is preferably such that themember 870 rotates three times during the time that the shaft 36rotates one-third of a revolution.` Y o In the form of the device shownin Figs. 1- to 5 inclusive the valve 62 and the controllinghandle 60 aremanually operated, while in the form shown in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive saidfdevices are operated by means of afoot pedal kwhichv also controls the inevable guardl forwthe'casing receiving rotating member. Also,rin the form shown in Figs. lato '5 inclusive. it isv necessary for the operator. tofhold the/linked sausages'- in a foot pedal 102 is provided which is pivot-ed inv any suitable manner at 103 to a'suitable support 104. Securedk to said foot pedal 102 is a pair of eyes 105 and 106 tov which the flexible members 107 and 108 are secured. The flexible member 107 leads over a pulley 109 provided on a bracket 110 mounted on the frame work of the machine. Saidflexiblev member 107 is secured at'the other end thereof to thel switch member 6'0 which is similar to the member except that instead of being manually operated a spring 111 is provided securedv to the top plate 47 which tends to move the handle 60 into engagement with a, stop 112. Thus, when the pedal 102 is depressed, which is thel position thereof shown in Fig. 6, the handle 60 is pulled to the position shown in Fig. 8 and contact is made at the switch member 113 to which the leads 59passing from the source of current to the motor extend. The handle 60 also operates the. valve 62 in a similar manner to that .in which the handle 60 operates the valve 62. Accordingly, a depression of the pedal 102 also opens the valve' 62 l The remainder of the valve mechanism in the form of the device shown in Fig. 6 is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inelusive and has, accordinglyl` been omitted, only a portion of the driving mechanism and the drive for the twisting. device being shown for the purpose of clearly indicating` the operation of the guard and the linked sausage holding means described below.

The parts that correspond to the parte shown in Figs.' 1 to 5' inclusive in Fig. 6 bear corresponding numerals, the numeral 39 indicating the gear driven from the pinion on the motor which is mounted' ony the sha-ft 36 corresponding to the shaft' 3 which carries the gear 94 loosely thereon and which has the clutch plate 831 keyed thereto, the gear 94 carrying the lugs 95 which are engaged bv a finger similartoV the linger 85 `shown in Fig. 5 to rotate the gear 94 which drives the rotatable member' 74 through the gears 962198 and 99', said rotatable member 74 carrying a casing receiving member 80 corresponding to ythe member 80 in Fig. 1 upon which the casing 82 is mounted.

The flexible mcmber108 has the end thereof, opposite that securedto the pedal 102, secured toA an eye 114 on the endl of the liever 115 whichis pivoted to a bracket 11G on the framework by'ymeansof the pivotmember 117'. The'lever 115 has an upturned end portion 118'wl'iich is forked as"A indicated at 1191'ifn Fig. 7 thus providing-a U-sh'ape'd opening 120 between the two arms 119 of the lever. The casing is placed on the member 80 cr 80', as the case may be, in a semewhat bunched condition, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and is constantly being vsli-d over toward the ri-ght in said figures bythe operator of the machine Aso the casing will be properly fed to the-twisting mechanism so 'that it will be neither wrinkled nor be under too much' tension' to cause tearing of theV same. The bifurcated end on the member 118y is provided so as to form aguardto prevent the` lfingers of the operator from coming into contact with the linked sausage holding mechanism which will bey described below.

It will be evident that when the pedal 102 is depressed the lever 115 will be in such a position that the forked arms 119 thereof will be in the position shown in Fig. 7 while if the pedal 102 is released and moves upi'i'f'ardly, due tothe actionof thel spring 111V and the spring V121Ysecured tothe lever 115 and' to anyV part of the frame of vthe machine, the lever 115 will be moved crosswise in Fig. 6 and the portions 119 thereof will move out of position surrounding the end of the member 80 thus being out ofthe way fer the placing the tube 80.

of a new casing over 'auk The shaft 36 is provided with. a cam 122 Y keyed to the'end thereof which has a high portion 123, extending over substantially onefthird the circumference of the cam, and a low portion 124, ext-ending over'substantially two-thirds of the' circumference of the cam. Said cam engages with a'ro'ller 125 mounted onthe end of the lever 126, said lever having an off-set at 127.V The lever 126 is mounted on the pivot member 128 which` extends through suitable pivot openings y129 in the ears 130 depending'from the member 116. Pivotall'y securedpto-.the one end of the lever,126 by means of Vthe pivot pin 131 isa lazy-tongs link mechanism comprising the links 132 mounted on the pivot 131 and the links 133 pivote'd thereto by means of the pivots 134. The links 133 are pivoted tothe member 116 at 135 and are provided with a` pair of curved fingers` 136 on the ends thereof. SaidY fingers 136 are adapt-ed to engage with the filled portion of thevcasing to hold the same when in the position shown inFig. 7. lt will be seen thatV this position will be assumed when the endy ofthe lever 126 connected to the lazytongs is in itslowered position which is when the'high portion 123 Aof the cam is in engagement with the 'roller 125. The opposite end of therlever is vprovided with Van eyev 137 to which thel spring 138' is 'secured which is secured at its other end toa pin 1:39]V mounted on the bracket memberV 7 2, said spring hold-V ing therolle'r 125 inengagementwith the face 1 of theY r`li-he rollen 125 is mounted between a pair of pivot ears 140 extending laterally from the lever 126 and, accordingly, when the roller is in engagement with the low part of the cam the spring will pull down on the lever 126, thus raising the end thereof connected with the lazytongs device thus opening the jaws 136. The cam is so arranged that the jaws'136 grip thev sausage when the member 80 is rotating and disenga'ge therefromto allow the sausages to pass therethrough vwhenthe casing 82 is being filled and the member 80 is stationary. t f n l Instead of providing the driving means for the 'alternately opened and closed valve member described above, a different form of drive may be used as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 in which the main drive shaft 141, mounted between the end members 142 of the framework, is provided with a pair of cams 143 and 144 which engage with rollers 145 and 146 mounted on the pivoted bar 147, said bar being pivoted at 148 on the bracket 149. The bar147 is connected at one end thereof with a' lever 150, a reduced end portion 151 of the bar 147 passing loosely through an opening in the member so as to -provide a loose joint between said members 147 and 150. The lever 150 is pivoted at 152 to the side member 142 and is provided with a slot 153 in the end thereof through which the reduced end portion 154 of the lever 155 passes,` said lever 155 being pivoted at 156 to the end member 157 of the framework and being connected'by means of a pin 158 passing through a slot 159 therein to a crank arm 160 on the valve 161, said valve 161 corresponding 'to the valve 57 shown in Fig. 1 but being arranged horizontally instead of vertically.

Instead of providing the driving means for the rotating casing twistingl member shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive and in Fig; 6, themeans shown in Fig. 11 maybe provided in whchthe main drive shaft 162 passing through the'side plate 163 of the framework carries a gear 164 keyed thereto which meshes with the gear 165 provided Aon the rotating member 166 which is mounted to rotate about. the filling tube in a similar manner to the member 74, said gear165 being provided with a'projecting pin 167 which is adapted to engage with the pin 168 on the clutch plate 169 which is grooved at 170 to receive ythe pins 171 on a yoke member 172 provided on the end of the lever 173 pivoted to the frameworkin any suitable manner at 174 and carrying a roller 175 at the opposite end thereof that engages with a cam 176 having a high portion 177 projecting laterally therefrom, said cam 17 6 being also keyed to the shaft 162. The clutch plate 169 is normally forced toward the left in Fig. 11 by means` of the coil springs 178 mounted'on the pins 179 projecting from the plate 180 mounted on the bearing 73 correspondinglto the bearing 73 in Fig. 1. Thus, when the roller is in engagement with the low part of the cam the pin 168 is held in suoli a position that the same is adapted to engage with thel pin 167, whereas when the roller 175 is in engagement with high portion 177 ofthe cam the pin 168will be held'out of engagement with the pin 167. The yhigh portion ofthe cam extends around substantially two-thirds of the circumference of the cam. Thus the member 168 is held out of engagement with the pin 167 two-thirds of the time and in engagement therewith one-third ofthe time that the member 165 is rotating, said menr ber 165 rotating constantly. The casing receiving member 181 -corresponding to the member 8O in Fig. 1, Vaccordingly rotates only one -third of the time although the gears 164 and 165 are rotating constantly. The arrangement of the' cam 177 is such that the member 181 will be rotating only Aat they timewhen the filling of the casing has been halted due to the closing of the mechanically operated valve in the passage leading from the stuffing device. Y

Instead of using rotary valves, as shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, gate valves may be employechsaid gate valves being eonstructed, as shown in Figs. 19 and 20 the valve shown being the valve that is mechanically operated and corresponding to the valve 57. Said valve is operated by means of a lever 182 pivoted at 183 and operated by any yof, the means previously described for periodically moving the lever in opposite directions so that the ,end 182 thereof will be Araised' two-thirds of the time and loweredone-third ofthe time. Pivotally mounted on the pivot member 184 on the end of the lever182 is thel slidably mounted closure member 185 which is adapted to vslide into and 'out of position to close the Said l opening 186 in the valve member. valve 185 is' provided with across bar 187 which is provided withopenings vfor receiving the bolts 188 mounted on the valve casing 189 and having compression springs 190 coiled therearound for normally holding the ymember 185 in valve closing position, said springs 190 bearing against the heads 191 onthe ends of the ,bolts 188.

Preferably, the rotating sausage twisting member is provided with means for holding the casing transversely distended to a certain extent so far as to feed the same more efficiently for stuffing and for supplying the proper amount of casing for making the twist therein to form the links. Such a device is shown in Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive, in which the rotating sausage receiving member A192 'corresponding to the member 8O shown in Fig. 1 extends over a tube 7 7 corresponding to the tube 77 shown in Fig. 1,

lUU

said member ,192qbeing provided with a' spring member 193 preferably' made of spring Wire which is, secured' at one'fend thereof by means of Va suitable seuring. means 194 to the memberv 192, the other end'l thereof being free, as clearlyshown inL Figs. 12 and 14. Then casing being'placed n the member 192,112 WilLbe Seem will be distende@ bythe Spring; 1.93 with a'zslieht springrpr essure The rotating member 192 isprovided With afflaljige'lll which 77pm-, vided with a pair ofkeyfhole slot-sl 196 whichy are adapted to receive the` headed studs 19'? mounted on the flange' 78, ,\vhich correspondsto the flange 7 81 in Fig. 1, for: de-v tachably holding the member 192 inposition. i

In Figs. 14 andi adiifferentl form of securing' means is shown-for. securiiigtlie n'ieinber192 onthe flange member. In'this form the member 1,92 is provided f vvith -a tlange198 shorter than'the'iiange 195 Whieh is adapted to be `received in 'afgioove 199 1in, the securing'member200' Whiclrcoiresponds to the lange'78 in Figi? 1.. Saidl securing member 200 is, divided into' tvv/jov halves`201 and 202 ywhich are hinged 'at '203, the mem-A ber 202 being4v provided withy afeatch 204 pressedy by means of a springf205 into positionV so th'at the hookf206tlieieon will en-j ygage with the stud 207 on the member201, the member 204: being provided with a. cam face 208 ior'directingA the hook into propel, position for engagement.,\vith the st-udf'7.

Instead of'usingfa'singl-e resilient mendb'er on a tubular rotating member, as shbvv'nr in Figs. 12 110615 inclusive, the; ari-angel ment shownV in'- Figs. ,16.to`18 inelusive may be used, in.V vvlixicli` a, skeletoiii'zed supporting member 209 takes thel place ofV the member 192. said memberdbeingl 'provided with longitudinally extending' L|o`p`e"-` in 210 and having end flanges 211 A 4and 212, the end flange 212 tormingati'ibular portion 213 /ada'ptetbto enter suitable hold-A ing. means provided on the rtatingmember' 78 andthe outvv'ardly directed-flange' 214 thereon' serving as a stop,l to' limitmpveinent thereof` tovvard' the left. ,I Seuredf in"-u any' suitable manner to Ythe `lage"2l11flare thel spring members 'A 215. of' Athese are shown iny Figs.'v 16 to 18 inlu'siy'fe'biit any del sired nun'ibe'rm'ayjbe provided and zitvvill be evident that with ani arrangement suc-h as that shown, the s'p'rings'vill'liold the casing distended in all` directions. yThe springs; 215 are provided 'with"sub'stantjially` straight end portions 216' that are: ,slidableon the flange 212 on 'the oppositeeii'd ofV theskele-4 iange 211. K p y 1n' case it is desired't'0 fill`easings that are vnetto be linked itis 'unnecessary 'to 're` move' the linking clevicenfromhthle stutter, All that is necessaryy is toA shut off the elctric -current to l.prevent operation off themotor, move thel valve operatingfmechanism to sucha positionthat thel valve 57 is open'-7 Openfthe valve 66asI far as possible and open the valve 62 either by means of the-handle er the tootfpedal102. The various open-y ings are then ot'sutlicient size that even the coarsest ground meat villrpass through the machine.' `(fa-sings of any size may beefilled by providingcasing-'supporting-tubes'of the proper size therefor. Y s

By providingthe quickly dem-ountable casing supporting member shown in' Figs; 12 to 15,the'casingL supporting members can be quickly interchanged, and? by. providing a plurality of said supportingmembers :with each machine, casings can'A be placed on said membersl while off the machine and a Acasing supporting member with" an unfilled easingfthereen can be substituted ina feW seconds4 tor an empty supporti-ng member from `Whichthe casing has beenl illed and linked. Y

Having`A thus described my invention, What iI desire to lclaimy and secureby United StatesjLetters Patent is:

1. In' a' device of the' character described, means vfor Vcontainingmeat under pressure, a passageway leading therefrom, a twisting mechanism, meansy yin saidpassageway periodically halting the flow of meat therethrough, and adjustable means constantly under control of the operator' for varying the rate yof flow okfsaid meat'therethrough during operation of said device.-

2. In a device of the 'character described, 1-'twisting mechanism, afmeat supply duct leadingto said twisting mechanism, means for supplying Ameat under pressure toisaid duct, meansI in said' ductA alternatelyopening andlclosing to permit said meat to periodically How therethrouglmand' acontrolling valve foncontrolling the rateot flovv of said meat therethrough while said device is operatingv y.

3. In adevice off-the characterl deseribed,y means for containing-meat underprssure, a passageway.y leading therefrom,- =a twisting` mechanism, means 7 for periodically. rotati in; saidtvisting mechanism, meansin said l" passageway periodicallyhalting thelow of meat therethrough, and,"4 adjustable vmeans under the control of the operator', for instantaneouslyl varying. the rate otloiv of said meat!therethrougli.lr

4t. In a deviceofthecharactrdescribed, means vfor Y`containing- 'meatV4 under` @passageway leeches there-rse ,bristles mechanism, vmeans for periodicallyY rotating said twisting meelianism, means V"insaid pas sag'evv'ay, periodically" halting theiloxv of meer therettropgu' 'adjustable means' foirvaryng the' rate of ffo'wg'ofsaid In attherei through, means contrel'li'ng the' op' ati`rik5f said device, and valve mehaisin inV said lili',

passageway associated with said controlling means closing when said device is stopped and opening When said device is started.

ln a device or' the character described, a twisting mechanism, a meat supply duct leading to said twisting mechanism, means for supplying meat under pressure to said duct, a out off valve therefor, a valve in said duct, means for alternately opening and closing said valve, and an adjustable valve 'or varying the rate of flow of the meat through said duct.

6. ln a device of the character described, a twisting mechanism, a meat supply duct leading to said twisting mechanism, means for supplying meat under pressure to said duct, a cut oli' valve therefor, a valve in said duct, .means for alternately opening and closing said valve, means ior periodically rotating said twisting mechanism when said valve is closed, and an adjustable valve for varying the rate olf iioiv ot the meat through said duct. Y

7 ln a device of the character described, a tvv'isting mechanism comprising a. rotat able casing supporting member, means for Vperiodically rotating said member, means within said member 'lor supplying' meat to the interior ot said casing and means l'or periodically holding the iilled portion ot said casing against rotation', said means engaging said casing only when said rotatable member is rotating.

8. ln a device of the character described, a twisting mechanism 'comprising a rotatable casing supporting member, means for periodically rotating said member, means Within said member tor supplying meat to the interior of said casing and means for holding the filled portion ot said casing against rotation when said rotatable member is rotating, said means disengaging from said casing when said rotatable member is stationary.

S). ln a device of the character described, a twisting mechanism comprising a rotatable casing supj'iorting member, means Vlor periodically rotating said member, means within said member Jor periodically supplying meat to the interior ot'.said casing when said rotatable member is stationary, and moans engaging the iilled portion oi" said casing to hold the same against rotation when said rotatable member is rotating, said means disengaging from said casing when said rotatable member is stationary to permit movement ot said casing oil' said supporting member as the casing is being filled.

l0. ln a device ol the character described,

a twisting mechanism comprising aA rotat able casing support-ing member, means for periodically rotating said member, means Within said member for periodically supplying meat to the interior of said-casing When said rotatable member is stationary, means for regulating the rate of iioiv oit said meat from said means, and means engaging the iilled portion of said casing to hold the same against rotation when said rotatable memberl is rotating, said means disengaging from said casing when said rotatable member. is stationary to permit movement ot said casing oli said supporting member as the casing is being tilled. y

ll. ln a device ot the character described, a twisting mechanism comprising a rotatable casing supporting member, means Within said member or supplying meat to the interior or said casing, means for holding the tilled portion of said casing. against rotation and a guard adjacent the end or' said rotatable member.

l2. ln a device or' the character described, a twisting mechanism comprising a rotatable casing supporting member, means With in said member for supplying meat to the interior of said casing, means for holding the illed portion of said casing against rotation and a guard adjacent the end ot said rotatable members, said guard being movable into and out of position adjacent'said rotatable member.

13. ln a device of the character described, a twisting mechanism comprising'a rotatable casing supporting member, means Within said member for supplying meat to the interior 0il said casing, means for holding the filled portion of said casing against rotation, a guard adjacent the end of said rotatable memberand means r'or automatically moving said guard out of position adjacent said rotatable member when the operation or said device is halted.

le'. ln a device of the character described, al twisting mechanism comprising a casing supporting member, a lilling tube Within said supporting member, and means for ad justing the flow of meat through said illing tube, said tube having a smooth interior Without offsets therein from end to end thereof whereby the same is adapted to lill a casing on said supporting member from end to end thereof Without twisting the same with coarsely aswell as inely ground meat.

In Witness whereof, hereunto subscribe by name this 8rd day of October, A. l).-

OTT() C. L. HIRSCH. 

